Remember the laser allegations? Here you go...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military is planning a final demonstration Friday night of a ground-based laser system designed to warn pilots who have
flown into restricted airspace over the nation's capital.

During the demonstration of the Visual Warning System, a test aircraft will be illuminated with alternating red and green laser lights, said Michael
Kucharek, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

"It's an attention-getter, but it's not blinding," Kucharek said. "It's not a distraction. So pilots can still focus on flying the aircraft
without endangering anyone or themselves."

This is not the lasers that were being projected into cockpits of commerial flights recently. They haven't started operational testing of this
warning system yet, and its designed to be non-distracting and certainly non-blinding.

People have admited to having pointed lasers into helicopter cockpits.

Yes, these are part of the laser problems- widely reported to be some act of terrorism...no body knew what they were- Sure, then you have the guy
playing with his kid in the backyard who was booked under a terrorism act.
This is most certainly part of that "terror" boogy woogy of not so long ago.
Ironic.

Originally posted by Kriz_4
I must admit when I saw the threads about terroists using lasers to down aircraft I couldn't believe people were taking it seriously. Couldn't help
but chuckle.

you can do whatever you want, but i live in colorado springs and the incidents that happened here were totally real. it wasnt towlies so it wasnt
terrorists? it was still an act of terrorism as it made people terrified and endangered human lives, it just want politcally motivated, it was dumb
kids.

ok i wasnt really clear about how i feel about it after re reading the other posts. THERE IS NO LEGITIMATE REASON TO POINT A LASER INTO A JETS
COCKPIT. It was not intended to terroize but thats exactly what happened. if you do something that stupid you deserve to be prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law.

what if the plane/helicoptor would have crashed? what if someone you loved was on that plane. you would not pursue legal actions against the idiot
that pointed the laser into the pilots eyes? you would just say "I couldn't believe people were taking it seriously."

You're right. This is nothing to laugh about. It could have had very serious results.--My question is, why were the feds looking for terrorists
doing this when all along it was the government doing it? One hand doesnt know what the other hand is doing? A little terror would be good for the
masses? Its all very sick if you ask me.

yeah that was part of my point that the incidents that happened here were not done by government...

ok so heres a conspiracy theory. whomever got busted for it out here was a patsy for the government. colorado springs is also known as 'air force
academy' and is located under chyene mountain. It WAS government that did it here as this is a significant military target and as i said they found a
patsy to blame.

i dont really believe that, but to count that out would 'not be prudent at this juncture in time'.

Originally posted by jprophet420
what if the plane/helicoptor would have crashed?
[edit on 18-2-2005 by jprophet420]

Please,
any laser available to the public is not powerfull enough to premenently blind the pilot from that kind of distance. The large planes practically fly
themselves when crusing. The only time I could see it causing a crash is during a landing/ takeoff, and even then I am skeptical that any momentary
flash/distraction could not be recoverd from. Thats why they have co-pilots. Plus now the inustry is using lasers, can't be that dangerous can
they?
This terrorism thing is going to far. Anything that causes fear is terrorism??
Come on people get real, if the motive behind the act is intended to bring about social or political change then it is terrorism. Otherwise it
is idiots that should be prosicuted under malicious mischief laws.

You underestimate me, darling...I have a full life..and only obsess when i am done living the "FULL" part of my life and come to ATS for
awhile.
PS...who mentioned Bush anyways? The man isnt even told about such trivial things on a daily basis...and he doesnt do "newspapers"

Originally posted by jprophet420
what if the plane/helicoptor would have crashed?
[edit on 18-2-2005 by jprophet420]

Please,
any laser available to the public is not powerfull enough to premenently blind the pilot from that kind of distance. The large planes practically fly
themselves when crusing. The only time I could see it causing a crash is during a landing/ takeoff, and even then I am skeptical that any momentary
flash/distraction could not be recoverd from. Thats why they have co-pilots. Plus now the inustry is using lasers, can't be that dangerous can
they?
This terrorism thing is going to far. Anything that causes fear is terrorism??
Come on people get real, if the motive behind the act is intended to bring about social or political change then it is terrorism. Otherwise it
is idiots that should be prosicuted under malicious mischief laws.

the one that happened in my town was during landing.
there is a warning sticker on all laser diodes/devices.

Green Laser Pointer Specs

GLP - 3

GLP - 5
Laser Type:

Frequency doubled, class IIIA laser. FDA approved.

same
Power Output:*

~ 3 mW

~ 5 mW
Wavelength:

532 nm, green
# Class 3a
Class 3a lasers or laser systems include all lasers that have an accessible output between 1 and 5 mW. These lasers do not present a problem for
momentary viewing due the aversion reflex however viewing with an optical instrument is a hazard. An example would be a laser pointer.

as you can see if the pilot was wearing glasses it could directly damage his eyes DIRECTLY causing a crash. If he was not wearing glasses it willl
cause the aversion reflex indirectly casueing a crash.

also, with minimal modification i could bump up the power output on that laser and blind you quite easilly.

If this if that.... I still maintain that any serious terrorist would get much better effects using directly destructive methods.
Flashing naked breasts at a busdriver in the middle of a intersection could distract him causeing a multi car pile-up, and multiple deaths. does that
make that woman a terrorist? No.
Does she deserve to go to jail? I think so. but not unter terrorism laws.

you have to be a blooming idio to point a laser pointer at a pilot flying a plane, so you deserve to be prosecuted under the blooming idiot law, and
held accountable for the lives of every person that was on the aircraft that you jeapordized the safety of.

it wasnt an act of political terroism, it was just an act that caused terror and endangered human lives.

ill agree that they werent terroists against the state if you agree they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for endangering lives.

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